(Newser)
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The prize that eluded Willie and Barry at long last belongs to the San Francisco Giants , thanks to a band of self-described castoffs and misfits and their shaggy-haired ace. Tim Lincecum, Edgar Rentaria and the Giants won the World Series on Monday night, beating the Texas Rangers 3-1 in a tense Game 5 and taking the trophy home to the city by the Bay for the first time. The Giants last won the Series in 1954, when they were based in New York.

Lincecum outdueled Cliff Lee in an every-pitch-matters match-up that was scoreless until Renteria, the Series MVP, hit a stunning three-run homer with two outs in the seventh inning. Nelson Cruz homered in the bottom half, but Lincecum returned to his wicked self and preserved the lead. As the final out was recorded , the thousands watching on a big-screen TV at San Francisco's Civic Center plaza leapt in joy, hugging and high-fiving each other.